Tanpinar’s The Time Regulation Institute is a brilliant comic novel from 1962 about life in a Turkey forced to adopt western ways. Pankaj Mishra signals the dangers of a one-size-fits-all notion of modernity

Holly Smale talks to site member EllaClaire about her version of feminism, replacing the perfect fairytale princess with an imperfect, real girl who picks her own adventure, finds her own strength and courage, and recognizes her own sense of self

Fancy being the Gruffalo, The Cat in the Hat or Horrid Henry on World Book Day on 5 March? We have fantastic step-by-step ingredients guides on how to dress up as these characters and more from Book Aid – plus a call to share your best costume ideas and win £50 in book tokens!

‘I have never met a writer who wishes to be described as a female writer, gay writer, black writer, Asian writer or African writer’ … Aminatta Forna on her frustration at the book world’s obsession with labels and identity

The Nazis still have a strong hold on us – in daily news stories, in bookshops and cinemas, even on the streets of Europe. Does it exert such a grip because it represents racism in its most extreme form?

As Andrew O’Hagan prepares to complete a journey around the British Isles begun with Seamus Heaney, he reflects on his lifelong immersion in poetry, and celebrates poets as risk-takers and miracle-workers